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Is a child who reaches puberty at an early age, while still not understanding anything, held accountable as a mukallaf (one who is religiously responsible)?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Scholars have differed on determining the minimum age of puberty. Some said it is nine years for both males and females, while others said nine for females and ten for males, and so on. This aligns with what is stated in the Fiqh Encyclopedia. If a boy experiences a wet dream or a girl menstruates after reaching this age, then they are considered to have reached puberty and become accountable for their actions. They will then possess the discernment and intellect that makes them subject to religious obligations.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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